1st US Market: Emirates Schedules Airbus A350-900 Flights Between Dubai & Orlando

Published Oct 3, 2026, 3:20 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. From November 1, Emirates will deploy the Airbus A350-900 to its first US market. The aircraft will fly between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) daily, replacing the existing Boeing 777 aircraft on the route. Florida has been an important gateway for the Emirati carrier since it began services to the Sunshine State in 2015. Passengers on the new aircraft will enjoy Emirates' luxuriously designed cabin interiors, state-of-the-art technology, and industry-leading innovations. Emirates' decision to deploy the new jet to Orlando emphasises the airline's commitment to those in Central Florida. Emirates Will Fly The Airbus A350-900 To Orlando From November Credit: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock Replacing the 777 on November 1, the aircraft will operate the daily rotation from Dubai to Orlando, operating with an early morning departure from Dubai, for a mid-morning arrival into Orlando. Return flights leave in the late evening for an overnight service back to Dubai. These flight times are well positioned for connections to the airline's wider Asia and Africa network. Below is the full schedule as per the airline's press release: Flight Number From To Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft EK219 Dubai (DXB) Orlando (MCO) 3:05 AM 10:20 AM Airbus A350-900 EK220 Orlando (MCO) Dubai (DXB) 8:20 PM 7:10 PM + 1 Day Airbus A350-900 This marks the first time Emirates will fly the A350-900 to the US and marks an important step in the airline's Premium Economy rollout, with the new cabin the first time to feature in this market. This provides passengers the opportunity to travel in the middle-range cabin, with added benefits over economy, but at a fraction of the price of a business class ticket. Matthew Jones, Emirates’ Vice President, US, explains: "We are extremely delighted to roll out elevated experiences for our customers in the US. Customers travelling on this important route will now be able to fly to Dubai while enjoying the latest in-flight experiences and superior levels of comfort in all three cabin classes, including Premium Economy, which is available on a growing list of routes in our network.” 298 Seats Available Across Three Cabins Credit: MC MEDIASTUDIO | Shutterstock With the A350-900 destined to touch down in Orlando next month, the new cabin interior, plus the Premium Economy debut on services to Orlando, provide a range of value onboard. Three cabins onboard the jet provide a total of 298 seats, including 32 business class, 28 premium economy, and 238 economy seats. For those in Premium Economy, the bespoke design provides customers with additional legroom, comfort, and an elevated onboard experience. Each seat is fitted with a 19.5-inch (49.5 cm) seat and generous legroom. Adjustable headrests, in-seat charging, and a wood-finished cocktail table are all on offer, with a 13.3-inch (33.8 cm) personal entertainment screen which connects to the airline's award-winning ICE inflight entertainment system. Emirates first added Premium Economy on the Airbus A380 in late 2020; this was first debuted on select routes such as London Heathrow (LHR) before being more widely rolled out in retrofitted A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, while also on new aircraft deliveries such as the A350-900. A Look At Emirates US Network Credit: Allora Empire Art | Shutterstock Emirates operates to 12 US destinations nonstop, including Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Orlando (MCO), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington, DC (IAD). These are complemented by its two unique fifth-freedom routes from Dubai to Milan (MXP) and onto New York (JFK), and Dubai to Athens (ATH) and onto Newark. This is the airline's largest, marked by the number of destinations served, ahead of India with ten, and the United Kingdom with six. The airline has a major codeshare partnership with United Airlines, providing passengers single-ticket connections across the United domestic network, from major hubs including Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, and Newark. Additional interline agreements exist with Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, and Sun Country. Emirates' latest schedule adjustment to bring the A350-900 to Orlando marks the introduction of the new aircraft for the first time on regular scheduled operations to the US.